***UPDATED 5/21!!!
Welcome to our wedding website! We hope you find everything you need to know about our special day. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at anytime!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Story of Us
The Bride
Abby grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Just 45 minutes away from her childhood home, Abby decided to go to UW Oshkosh for graphic design. With a few semesters of computer laden classes and a very uninteresting internship she decided that graphic design was not the path for her. After dabbling a bit in environmental science, Abby went back to her true calling: painting and drawing. She finally got her BFA after five years of hard work and self discovery. Unfortunately no one hires an artist so instead she went for the next best thing: being a nanny. Abby now works with a wonderful family in Madison which also leaves her time for being the artist she trained to be.
Abby loves to paint, travel, and make their new house a home.
The Groom
Paul grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin. A far 4 hours away from his childhood home, Paul decided to go to UW Oshkosh for music education. Unlike his unruly other half, he stuck with it and graduated in a short five and a half years (which is actually quite quick for a music ed degree!). Within those five and a half years he ran on the UW Oshkosh Cross Country team, was a member of the Chamber Choir, and played in a few bands with strange names such as Lukas Larabee and the Lifepartners and The Joe Briggs Project. After all his collegiate adventures, Paul had no problem getting a job coming out of college. He now works for the Stoughton School District as the general music teacher at Fox Prairie Elementary School.
Paul loves to adventure, play music, and take care of their new home.
The Story of Us
They met while Paul was busy working the stage at the UW Oshkosh Open Mic. His handsome face and awkward charm filled the room and caught the eye of a young and giggly Abby. Lucky for her, Abby's majority of friends were musicians and their new band needed an awkwardly charming lead singer. Their practice space was located on the dorm floor where Abby was living. It was the perfect chance for her to swoon the swooner. Abby pled her case and he took the bait.
Five years later, Paul proposed and of course Abby said yes.
Ceremony & Reception
We are saying we do! Our ceremony and reception locations are just within 100 yards from each other. The little walk will give us some time to appreciate a beautiful August summer day!
800 Langdon St
Madison, WI 53706
Reception starts at 5:00pm
Dinner starts at 6:00pm
Things to do in between the ceremony and reception:
-hit up State Street!
You could really spend a whole day here! Lots of awesome shops and restaurants to poke your head into.
-go to the UW Memorial Union
The reception will be held there so no extra walking will be required! The Union hosts an the Ice Cream Shoppe, the Union Terrace (beer, sailboats, and people watching), and some food options.
-walk around the UW Madison campus
It's a beautiful campus and hopefully we'll be graced with great summer weather!
-check out Wisconsin's Capital
It's just a short jaunt down State St. If you haven't visited it before, now is the time! Great history and beautiful architecture.
Wedding Party
and in no particular order...
Bridesmaids
Cait Shanahan (maid of honor)
Jessi Dresen
Dawn Otteson
Katy Garvey
Groomsmen
Mike Otteson (best man)
John Statz
Shelby Anderson
Joe Briggs
Parents of the Bride
Rick and Pat VanStraten
Parents of the Groom
Darci and Mike McQuiston
Scott and Cheri Otteson
Ushers
Sam VanStraten (brother of the bride)
Ben VanStraten (brother of the bride)
Hotel Information
We blocked off between 10 to 20 rooms in the hotels listed below. The first three hotels are in the downtown area. Best Western is located about 5 miles from the reception. The rooms are only blocked off until July 7th so you must make your reservation by then. All reservations are held under "The VanStraten/Otteson Wedding".
Madison Concourse Hotel1-800-356-8293
Concourse Level Rooms
Single Rate $139
Double Rate $139
Triple Rate $149
Quad Rate $159
Check-in time is 3:00pm and checkout time is 11:00am. Hotel will accommodate any early arrivals on a space available basis.
Current parking rate is $7.00 per day. Additional parking facilities are located within one block of the hotel. Hotel room rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes in effect at the time of check-in. The current tax rate is 14.5%.
866-301-1753
610 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53703
Rooms are $90 to $105 per night.
This includes either two European double beds or one queen-size bed, use of swimming pool, sauna, and exercise room, and a continental breakfast. Off site parking is free but there is a charge for on site parking. Check in time is 3pm and check out time is 11am.
608-255-5100
9 E. Wilson Avenue
Madison, WI 53703
The Hilton has made a special booking web page just for our wedding!
Two Double/King Bed Rooms $139
Self parking is an additional charge per night based on availability. Room tax is 14.5% per night. Deluxe rooms are an additional $30 upgrade per night. Corner king rooms are an additional $20 upgrade per night.
608-251-2300
706 John Nolen Drive
Madison, WI 53713
The Sheraton has also made a personalized web page just for our wedding!
Two Double/King Bed Rooms $119
Room tax is 14.5% per night. Club level rooms are an additional $30 upgrade per night based on availability.
608-244-2020
4801 Annamark Drive
Madison, WI 53704
Queen Bed Rooms $84.99
Room tax is 14.5% per night. Check-in time is 3:00pm and checkout time is 11:00am.
Madison Attractions & Restaurants
- State Capitol
- Smack dab in the middle of The Square
- (you can't miss it!)
- Madison, WI 53703
- 608.266.0382
Our beautiful state capitol! The have free tours happening from 8am-6pm on weekdays and 8am-4pm on weekends. They also have an AMAZING farmer's market on Saturday morning with things to do for the whole family!
For more information:
http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/wisconsin_state_capitol_tour.html
- Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- 3330 Atwood Ave
- Madison, WI 53704
- 608.246.4550
The gardens here are spectacular and FREE! ($1 per person for the really cool conservatory) Make sure to bring your camera!
- Henry Vilas Zoo
- 702 S Randall Ave
- Madison, WI 53715
- 608.266.4732
Open from 9:30am to 5pm daily and FREE! Great place for the family with an awesome play land for the kids!
http://www.vilaszoo.org/index.php
- The UW Arboretum
- 1207 Seminole Highway
- Madison, WI 53711
- 608.263.7888
Since 1934 the University of Wisconsin - Madison Arboretum has been restoring the land, advancing ecological restoration, and fostering Aldo Leopold's land ethic. Breathtaking scenery- bring your camera!
- Restaurant Magnus
- 120 Wilson St
- Madison, WI 53703
- 608.258.8787
If you want to spend a pretty penny and have some of the best food of your life- dine here. This is where we went for dinner the day of our engagement! Amazing cuisine, but definitely on the pricey side. Reservations recommended.
- The Great Dane
- 123 E Doty St
- Madison, WI 53703
- 608.284.0000
Great pub food and really good beer! Nice social atmosphere with lots and lots of pool tables!
http://www.greatdanepub.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26...
- The Old Fashioned
- 23 N Pinckney St
- Madison, WI 53703
- 608.310.4545
Inspired by the traditions of Wisconsin taverns and supper clubs, The Old Fashioned exists to pay tribute to the foods and spirits that make our state famous. Here, that means so much more than beers, brats, and cheese. Don't worry, we take all those things very seriously, but we're equally committed to preserving the unique heritage that defines our way of life. When you walk through our doors, you'll not only experience what Wisconsin was, youll taste what it always will be.
GREAT FOOD!!
Right on the capitol square!
- The Brocach Irish Pub
- 7 W Main St
- Madison, WI 53703
- 608.255.2015
Not a truly authentic Irish Pub, but they must have spent millions to make it look like one. Lots of space; fireplaces; nooks and crannies. Traditional session music on Sunday afternoons. Maybe the best potato leek soup and Irish soda bread west of Galway. The fish and chips are traditional and very well-prepared.
Prices: $8 to $18Right on the Capital square!
- Orpheum Theatre's Grand Lobby
- 216 State St
- Madison , WI 53703
- 608.255.2594
Location, location, location. In the heart of State Street in a sweeping old-school movie theatre lobby. Great place for Sunday brunch.
Prices: $5 to $28
RSVP
Friends and Family,
You can RSVP by sending in your handy dandy RSVP cards that were sent with your invitations. Or if you'd like to save the mailman a trip, you can email Abby at abby.vanstraten@gmail.com!
Please RSVP by July 6th!
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